Echeveria plant named ‘OVPEARLS03’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Echeveria  plant named ‘OVPEARLS03’ which is characterized by a flattened globular plant form, broad spatulate foliage with a mucronate apex, and moderately pruinose foliage with a light greyed-green general coloration and pale orange margins. The new variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Echeveria chihuahuaensis.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Echeveria disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘OVPEARLS03’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rights application number 2017/2560, filed on Oct. 12, 2017, which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘OVPEARLS03’ is a naturally-occurring, whole-plant mutation of an unnamed Echeveria chihuahuaensis plant (not patented) which was discovered by the inventor in May of 2014 at a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. The mutation was noted for its light greyed-green foliage with pale orange margins.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘OVPEARLS03’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in May of 2014 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Through seven subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘OVPEARLS03’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘OVPEARLS03’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘OVPEARLS03’ as a new and distinct Echeveria cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘OVPEARLS03’ exhibits a flattened globular plant form with         foliage arranged in a basal rosette; and     -   2. ‘OVPEARLS03’ exhibits broad spatulate foliage with a         mucronate apex; and     -   3. ‘OVPEARLS03’ exhibits moderately pruinose foliage with a         light greyed-green general coloration and pale orange margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘OVPEARLS03’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 1 year old, shown planted in a 12 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage arrangement of ‘OVPEARLS03’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘OVPEARLS03’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of the mature foliage ‘OVPEARLS03’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in October of 2017 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 1 year old ‘OVPEARLS03’ plants grown in 12 cm nursery containers at commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria which consisted of minimal irrigation, by way of ebb and flow benches, fertilizer applications, and chemical pest control measures against thrips as required. No other chemical pest and disease control measures were taken. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percent shade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began to mature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘OVPEARLS03’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘OVPEARLS03’ and a comparison with the parent and closest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a             non-branched basal rosette.         -   Plant form.—Flattened globular.         -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—5.5 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 16.2 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Low to moderate.         -   Plant vigor.—Low to moderate.         -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting             — Approximately 25 days at an approximate temperature of 20             degrees Celsius. Crop time — Approximately 1 year to produce             a marketable plant in a 12 cm container.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria pests and             diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once             established; high tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching habit.—No stems or branches; leaves arranged in a             basal rosette. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Quantity.—Approximately 29 leaves per rosette.         -   Shape.—Thick, succulent leaves which are spatulate.         -   Dimensions.—6.6 cm long, 2.8 cm wide, and 0.7 cm thick, on             average.         -   Aspect.—Slightly concave. Distal portion of the leaf is             curled upward at an approximate angle of 30 degrees to the             proximal portion of the leaf.         -   Attitude.—Leaves are held upright and outward.         -   Apex.—Mucronate.         -   Base.—Narrow cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire; not undulated or lobed.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial             surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and slightly glossy; moderately             pruinose, colored greyed-green, nearest to in between RHS             188A and 188B.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial             surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and slightly glossy; moderately             pruinose, colored greyed-green, nearest to in between RHS             188A and 188B.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface; pruinose removed —             Nearest to in between green, RHS 137B, and greyed-green, RHS             191A; fading to yellow-green towards the base, nearest to a             mixture of RHS 145C and 145D; margins are a mixture of             greyed-green and greyed-red, RHS 193A and 186C. Juvenile             foliage, abaxial surface; pruinose removed — Yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 147A but slightly darker, and lighter towards             the base, nearest to RHS N147C; margins are greyed-orange,             nearest to RHS 177C; apex is greyed-orange, nearest to RHS             166D. Mature foliage, adaxial surface; pruinose removed —             Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147B, and lighter towards the             base, nearest to RHS 146C; margins and apex are             greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 177C. Mature foliage, abaxial             surface; pruinose removed — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS             148B, and fading lighter towards the base, nearest to RHS             148C; margins and apex are greyed-brown, nearest to RHS 199D             but lighter.         -   Venation.—Pattern — No venation is visible. Color, adaxial             surface — No venation is visible. Color, abaxial surface —             No venation is visible.         -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile. -   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVPEARLS03’ differ from the parent, an unnamed Echeveria chihuahuaensis plant (not patented) in the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘OVPEARLS03’ Parent plant General coloration of the Light greyed-green. Darker greyed-green. foliage. General coloration of the Pale orange. Red-purple. foliage apex. General coloration of the Pale orange. Yellow-green. foliage margins.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVPEARLS03’ differ from the species Echeveria pulidonis (unnamed and unpatented), which is the closest known comparator, in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘OVPEARLS03’ Echeveria pulidonis Abundance of foliage. Fewer leaves. More leaves. Foliage shape. Spatulate; broader than Spatulate; narrower than Echeveria pulidonis. ‘OVPEARLS03’. General coloration Light greyed-green. Darker greyed-green. of the foliage. General coloration Pale orange. Dark red-purple. of the foliage margins 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echeveria plant named ‘OVPEARLS03’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 